Endangered monkeys discovered in Dong Nai
Update: 27/11/2008
Scientists have recently discovered a large group of black-shanked douc langur ((Pygathrix nigripes) in Chua Chan Mountain, located in Xuan Loc district, Dong Nai province with recorded 16 individuals. Among them, there are three infants and some females are with young.
The black-shanked douc langurs inhabit tropical rain and monsoon forests from sea level to altitudes of 2000 metres above sea level. Traveling with between 3 and 50 individuals in a group (usually 4 – 25), the black-shanked douc is a very social primate, and individuals will readily play and groom together. Douc langurs live in multimale-multifemale groups with two females to one male, and males being dominant to females. The douc langur gives birth to a single offspring. Most births in captivity were found to occur between January and August, ahead of the fruiting season.
The black-shanked douc langur was once abundant in Vietnam but they have become rare and endangered in recent years because of over-hunting.